Biography of the week feature

Cameron, Donaldina (Mackenzie)

Missionary, Social Worker, and Youth Advocate

Donaldina Cameron was born on a sheep ranch in New Zealand.
At the age of two she emigrated to California with her parents,
older brother, and four older sisters. In 1874, when Donaldina
was five, her mother died, worn out from the hardships of
ranching life. The family's ranch eventually failed and Donaldina's
father supported his family by working for other ranchers.
At nineteen, Donaldina was engaged, but for reasons unknown,
did not marry. In 1895, Donaldina was persuaded by an old
family friend to spend a year helping out at the Presbyterian
Mission House in San Francisco's Chinatown.